for his part general al sentence denying misconduct, but the scandal goes further because an internal fbi inquiry has been launched into the agent who started the investigation. a senior government official has told nbc news that the agent sent topless photos of himself to jill kelley prior to the investigation. at today's white house briefing spokesman jay carney was hit by a barrage of questions. >> how is it that the white house didn't have any idea of this until the day after the election? >> is the president as commander in chief at all worried about a culture -- an inappropriate culture in the military. >> what's the president's reaction to this? is he disgusted? is he embarrassed? >> does the president see this in general as an unwelcome distraction? >> well, i certainly i think wouldn't call it welcome. >> not welcome, indeed, and you'd think there was nothing else going on in washington, but, in fact, the president is already engaged in the fight to define his second term. after a decisive election win, he must now translate that victory into shaping policy and in the short term